Kumho Tire Union Walking Divergent Paths... Competition for 'No.1 Union'?

Partial Strike by Metalworkers Union While Rubber Workers Federation Proceeds with Labor Agreement
Intense Strategic Battle Over Potential Change in No.1 Union

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] This year, the two major labor unions of Hankook Tire & Technology are taking divergent paths regarding wage negotiations. While the Hankook Tire Branch of the Korean Metal Workers' Union, affiliated with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, has initiated a partial strike, the Hankook Tire & Technology Labor Union, affiliated with the Federation of Rubber Industry Workers under the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, is conducting wage negotiations on the same day. Industry insiders speculate that depending on the outcome of the wage talks, the status of the first and second unions, which shifted this year, could be shaken again.

According to Hankook Tire on the 20th, the Hankook Tire Branch began a 4-hour partial strike that day. A branch official stated, "Future schedules will be decided through the Central Dispute Countermeasures Committee, which meets every Tuesday."

On the other hand, the union entered wage negotiations with the company on the same day. A union official said, "We started the wage negotiation introductory meeting on the 12th," adding, "We will not participate in the branch's decision to hold a partial strike."

The reason the two groups within Hankook Tire are taking different paths stems from the aftermath of last year's strike. The union had been affiliated with the Rubber Industry Federation for decades. However, a large-scale strike occurred last year, and during the agreement process, controversy arose over the union chairman signing the agreement by authority. Signing by authority means the chairman concluded the collective agreement without confirming the members' intentions or against their will. As a result of the conflict, the branch surpassed the union in membership numbers in January this year. Currently, the two groups are engaged in a tense three-way struggle. The Geumsan plant has more union members, while the Daejeon plant has more branch members.

Although the branch is conducting a 4-hour partial strike, significant disruption to operations is not expected since union members participate in production. A Hankook Tire official said, "The partial strike is scheduled, but we are doing our utmost to ensure there are no disruptions."

Industry analysts interpret that the two unions have entered a complex power struggle over the position of the first union. If the union concludes wage negotiations before the branch, union members will receive increased wages and lump-sum payments earlier than branch members. Additionally, branch members may have to perform the same work as union members while receiving lower wages due to the 4-hour partial strike until the wage negotiations are settled.

Who concludes negotiations first is also crucial. Since neither side overwhelmingly dominates the other, the side that reaches an agreement first could set the guideline for this year's wage increase range. If the union settles wage negotiations first and the branch later agrees to a higher wage proposal with the company, the union could strongly oppose it.

There is also a possibility that members will move to the side that concludes negotiations first to quickly benefit from wage increases. An industry insider said, "The second wage agreement cannot demand higher terms than the first concluded one," adding, "If one side settles first, non-union members and members from the other side may move, potentially changing the status of the first union."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.